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Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Book Review - The New Small Person

About the Book
Lauren Child tells the familiar tale of a less-than-welcome sibling with subtlety, insight, affection, and humor.

Elmore Green starts life as an only child, as many children do. He has a room to himself, where he can line up his precious things and nobody will move them one inch. But one day everything changes. When the new small person comes along, it seems that everybody might like it a bit more than they like Elmore Green. And when the small person knocks over Elmore’s things and even licks his jelly-bean collection, Elmore’s parents say that he can’t be angry because the small person is only small. Elmore wants the small person to go back to wherever it came from. Then, one night, everything changes. . . . In her signature visual style, Lauren Child gets to the heart of a child’s evolving emotions about becoming a big brother or sister.

My Take on the Book
As I read this story, my thoughts were drawn to my two daughters. Often an older child has challenges when a young sibling arrives. The older child has their room, their toys, their routines, etc. In many instances if is often difficult for the older child to share.

The story shows clearly the feelings of the older child. But what I love about this story is that it also indicates to the reader/listener that those feelings can change. There can be a wonderful relationship blooming. All it takes is one special incident in their lives. And in this story once such incident occurs that enables the siblings to become good friends and playmates.

I believe this story is worth sharing with your children. It is sensitive to the issues of the older child, but also shows the love of the younger sibling.